Mortismal Gaming has reviewed ELEX:

Elex - Review After 100%

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IndianNoob shares his feelings about ELEX as a Piranha Bytes fan.

In my nearly 20 years of playing role-playing video games, I’ve been the loyal defender of dozens of video game developers and their products throughout the years. Some come and go like Black Isle and Troika. Some you grow out of, like Bioware and Obsidian. But some stay. In my case, Piranha Bytes is the one that stayed. Ever since playing their first game Gothic as a wee lad, I’ve maintained a passionate obsession towards the German developer and their games. So it’s a no-brainer when I say that I absolutely love Elex, Piranha Bytes’ 2017 RPG, or in the words of us fans- “a hardcore RPG”. But some wise man on the internet once said that “Elex is not a good game unless you are German, married and have Aspergers”

[...]

Björn and Jennifer Pankratz explain the characteristics of an open world game (you can activate the translation to English subtitles):

WIE GEHT OPEN WORLD? Piranha Becken TV

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ELEX is 50% off on Steam until the 7th of April.

RPG Site has reviewed ELEX:

Elex Review

October of 2017 was a pretty hectic month for video games. Assassin’s Creed returned from its yearlong sabbatical in the form of Assassin’s Creed Origins, Super Mario Odyssey gave fans the freeform platforming they had been longing for since 2002’s Super Mario Sunshine, and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus gave us all a reason to fight back against tyranny. All on the same day!

Piranha Byte’s Elex had come out the week before. It was understandably a bit of an afterthought.

I had heard all sorts of various scuttlebutt before diving into Elex earlier this year. That it was unforgivingly buggy and frustratingly difficult. That it comprised mostly of awkward and stilted dialogue, generic world design, and an overall bland aesthetic. In private chats with friends I would show off my “Skyrim reject” character and laugh at obnoxiously overt bugs. But I kept wanting to play more of the game anyways. I’m not sure if the desire stemmed from me wanting to give the game a fair shake, a sort of morbid curiosity, or something else.

While I somewhat expected to be ironically entertained by aggressive mediocrity, I ended up finding some of the best quest design in a video game since Fallout: New Vegas.

[...]

Score: 7/10

LastKnownMeal reviewed ELEX:

WTF is Going on with ELEX? - 65 DAYS LATER

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It's been more than 65 days since the release of ELEX, a new RPG by PiranhaBytes. Today we take a look at the current state of the game and we will find out if this game is worth your money.

ELEX has received a big patch that resolves many quest and gameplay issues and adds new difficulty settings.

ELEX Version 1.0.2946.0 - Game & Quest Fixes + New Difficulty Setting

Changelog
New Difficulty Settings:
- Player Damage: damage dealt by the player.
- Opponent Damage: damage dealt by your Opponents.
- Stamina cost: modifies the stamina cost for your actions.

Engine:
- Added FXAA T2x and SMAA T2x anti-aliasing techniques

Quests:

[...]

Game:
- Added Chinese language package
- Improved breaking chance of lockpicks for chests
- Weather and lighting improvements
- Added missing small white socket stones
- Some NPCs had wrong weapons equipped, now they have a proper one
- Arva and her Troll will now react in a correct behavior
- 2-handed weapons and heavy weapons now need the perk Level of 2 to dismantle them
- You need the Build Ammo perk on Lvl 2 to build ammo for heavy weapons
- Fixed a bug where the player has endless jetpack energy
- Fixed an issue with the Pickpocket skill when the player has an equipped item that gives him a bonus skill
- Fixed some issues when creatures and NPCs fell through the ground
- Sunglasses don't give armor bonus anymore
- Fixed a bug with energy regeneration
- Crony regenerates HPs now after he got unconscious
- Socket Items now give a bonus when attached to a shield
- The XP malus for using stims is working now
- The perk Good Eater now doubles the effect of food, it was tripled before
- Fixed an issue where the loot screen was hidden by the body of the player
- When falling the player uses his fall animation correctly
- Dead ambient creatures don't have collision anymore
- Female body parts now behave correctly during dialogs
- Fixed a bug in which weapon modes were not shown in the HUD
- Adjusted some loot
- Option for deactivating the evade roll on double-click is saved now
- Fixed some icon issues
- Pure mana also regenerates mana now (only for Berserkers)
- Fixed some issues with ranged weapons not having an ammo count when drawn
- All potion can be used in quick slots
- Sulfur will now be shown in the inventory screen of the player
- Fixed some recipes
- The perk "One with the Weapon Ability" now has a cooldown
- Some weapons didn't deal damage with the 4th hit, they'll do now so
- Creatures stop chasing the player now if the player is far away
- Fixed some issue with exploiting Elexit by trading.
- Improved combat behavior for some monsters
- Flamethrower single shots now have a cooldown and a decreased radius
- Many mesh and texture reworks and improvements
- LOD range of red rusty metal plates has been corrected. The plates are now using the correct LOD when close by and are no longer flat
- The collision mesh of one of the rusted electrical towers is more accurate. The player no longer falls through some of the horizontal beams

Thanks Alistair!

The RPG Codex has reviewed ELEX:

RPG Codex Review: ELEX!

Eclectic

Five long years have passed since Piranha Bytes had a collective bout of dementia and released the nightmare known as Risen 2. The release of Risen 3 two years later showed that the German developers were evidently rejecting their medication because the game turned out to be even worse than its prequel.

With such disasters under their belt, it would take only the greatest of madmen to await the release of their next game: ELEX. Especially since, to make matters even worse, ELEX just looked kind of stupid in the pre-release materials, like some crazy 80s action cartoon universe mashup, but still not corny enough for the style to seem as fun as that of the Wizardry or Might and Magic series.

Though you know what they say. Only the insane shall prosper.

[...]

ELEX!

Starting the game, I was dead sure that it would be horrible. Meanwhile I sunk into it for 85 long hours, which was only enough to complete one “full world lawnmowing” playthrough – save game counter tells me 70 hours, but I got an 80h playtime cheevo at 65, so I must have spent 15 idling and reloading (which sure is a lot of reloading). However, I also know that it took some folks just 20-something hours to breeze through it.

If I had to give you a short overall impression of ELEX, I would probably call it the same way one thread on our forums refers to Divine Divinity – it is probably the best shit game I’ve ever played. Sure, there are parts of it that are downright abysmal, broken or user-unfriendly. But at the same time, it is so incredibly addictive and fun that I don’t remember the last time a game sucked me in so completely for so long.

Perhaps a lot of it has to do with expectations and experience. I’ve witnessed the horrors of Risen 2 and 3 first-hand, so seeing the numerous improvements over these in ELEX was already a surprise for me, because ELEX is objectively an all-around better game than the both of those combined, which I suppose is at least one proven case of a developer being held back by an idiotic publisher. There is still a lot of room for improvement left to be sure, and I do hope Piranha Bytes do not waste the opportunity. If I had to give them at least one major piece of advice as to how ELEX 2 could be made better, it would definitely be to scale things down – reduce the world size, but improve its content. Gothic 3 was already an example of them overreaching, and ELEX in many ways repeats the same mistake.

Your very own expectations are also likely to influence how you will receive ELEX. If you are deluded enough to expect another Gothic, you might as well forget it. But if you still have that open world, no-nonsense PB game itch that needs scratching (and you know you do), ELEX might just be the thing you need. It looks dumb, it might be infuriating sometimes, but all I can say is: don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

*Darth Roxor injects more ELEX into his eyeball*

PC Aficionado checked out ELEX:

ELEX Review

From the developers of the classic PC-exclusive Gothic franchise, ELEX is a sci-fi open world RPG which was regarded as the “Skyrim-killer” prior to its release back in October. These claims were based mostly on the promise of a seamless open world that’s just as immersive as the cold Skyrim itself. In this post-apocalyptics setting, four factions fight for power, each being characterized by a core genre. Yes, a genre. Whereas other RPGs define their factions through core ideas, ELEX does so through genres such as fantasy and sci-fi.
[...]
For what it offers, ELEX is decently priced. This is hardly the “Skyrim-killer” people were talking about a year or so ago, but its world design and content distribution are entertaining enough to justify its price. Piranha Bytes fans might be rather pleased with this release and how difficult it is. Meanwhile, those who know of Gothic only by name might be a little disappointed if they’re looking for a Dragonborn alternative. With at least 10 hours where you have no idea what to do, ELEX is a tough sell for gamers used to regular RPGs with perfectly laid out plots and fluid mechanics. If you’re hesitant, remember to check on the Steam discussions the best ways to make significant progress as there are many threads on the subject. As long as you’re willing to overlook its problems and the fact it always feels as if it didn’t go through any sort of QA testing, ELEX can be rather fun with its choices and their consequences and its seamless open world.

Thanks Farflame!

Niche Gamer's Carl Batchelor understands how Piranha Bytes RPGs work:

Elex Review – It’s Gothic, Only Now With Laser Rifles

When Piranha Bytes released the original Gothic back in late 2001 here in North America, the era of open world CRPGs had just been kicked off by Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls: Morrowind, and Gothic found itself lost in the hype that game generated. Though full of new ideas and even a few re-worked and improved upon old ones, Gothic had an unwieldy control system and clunky animations; remnants of its original status as an Xbox title meant for play on an under-powered console and controlled by a gamepad.

Regardless, Gothic found its niche with older gamers who appreciated the Ultima 7 inspired NPC interaction, the creative faction play, and the feeling of hopelessness that permeated both the game’s story and its lopsided combat difficulty. It harkened back to a time when CRPGs didn’t set out to make the player feel like a golden god and instead did everything in its power to humiliate and frighten the player as well as the main hero that you controlled.

[...]

With its only downsides being an awkward progression table and combat that comes with a steep learning curve, I was highly tempted to give Elex a 10. Though after comparing the game to the ultra-polished and masterfully balanced Witcher 3, I don’t feel comfortable putting it above CD Projekt’s masterpiece of CRPG design.

That being said, I still consider Elex one of the best CRPGs of this decade, and, if my 2nd trip through the game is as enjoyable as the first, it could be Piranha Bytes’ best game to date. As I’m playing through the game with the two factions I *didn’t* pick, I’ll be eagerly awaiting Elex 2.

The Verdict: 9

The Good:

• Amazing graphics
• Tons of choice & consequence
• Moderately non-linear and highly replayable
• large, well designed open world
• A fun twist on the cliched post-apocalyptic style
• Lots of tactics to employ in combat makes late game battles very enjoyable

The Bad:

• Spend the first half of the game relatively under-powered
• Combat can be awkward at times, requires lots of patience and practice

Two more (wannabe) reviews for ELEX - most reviewers out there simply can't handle the game and don't understand a non-auto-leveled open world:

Select Button: ELEX Review - 7/10

PC Gamer: ELEX Review - 64/100

Maylander has penned down a review of ELEX. A game that has received some unfavorable ratings on the internet. In our review of the game, Maylander feels the game is better than those ratings indicate.

Piranha Bytes, the developers of both the Gothic and the Risen series, have decided to create an entirely new series in a new setting: ELEX, set in the world of Magalan, a planet very similar to our own until a comet wiped out most of the civilization.

The comet not only brought destruction; it also brought a new element called Elex.  Elex, which is actually not spelled ELEX like the game title, is rather mysterious in nature, and has the ability to act as a power source for machinery, as a magic component if purified or as a form of performance enhancing drug if consumed. As a result, various factions were created among the survivors of the comet's impact, depending on their philosophy for handling Elex: The Albs want to consume it, the Berserkers want to purify it, the Clerics use it as an energy source and the Outlaws really couldn't care less as long as there's profit in it. These factions are currently vying for control of Magalan, or perhaps more importantly, of Elex, similar to the spice of Dune.

This post-apocalyptic setting with hints of Mad Max, magic and sci-fi may be vastly different from what we have seen in former Piranha Bytes titles, but ELEX is still very much a Piranha Bytes game. That means it is easy to recommend it to fans of their previous work, especially since ELEX represents their best work in years, but for everyone else I recommend reading more about it before deciding to buy it. It may seem like Skyrim meets Fallout, but that is not the case.

DankLord made an extensive video review about ELEX:

ELEX Extensive Review

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Alistair spotted that ELEX version 1.0.2846.0 is now live:

ELEX Version 1.0.2846.0 live now

Changelog

Engine

• Crash fix for systems with more than 16 logical CPU cores.
• If savegame limit is reached, “Create new savegame” is hidden. (limit is 99)
• Fixed saving for all Windows user.
• Fixed some freezes in tutorials. The tutorial won't be shown if the corresponding key bindings are not valid.
• Fixed saving after the Big Bang fight was not possible.
• Fixed pink water on some older AMD/ATI graphic devices.
• Fixed game freeze when you try to interact during an evade roll.

Quests

• Fixed permanently angry NPCs.
• Kral has now a quest marker for the Mana shrine quest.
• Jax gets the correct award from Reinhold when joining the Clerics.
• Bullet and Lucy don't die immediately when they encounter an enemy.
• Fixed quest targets when fighting in the arena.
• Trevor now gives Jax the correct reward, depending on his actions.
• Mad Bob’s dialogue is now in the correct order, taking the Jax’s actions into account.
• Jack will change his daily routine if Jax killed Hopkins and his bandits. Furthermore, the dialogue regarding Volkmar’s weapon now works properly.
• The quest involving Riley, Darrel and Paige is closed correctly now. (Might be necessary to sleep in a bed to trigger this fix.)
• Fixed a plot killer for a certain ending of the game. Talk to Logan twice, in case of having this issue in your save game.
•  Bill will now return to his hut after the player killed Vance and talked to him about the situation.
• Martha will now not quit the dialogue, after Jax buys food from/trades with her - therefore she will now update the Legate situation if the player choses the ENDE/END dialogue option.
• If the player has joined the Clerics and talks with Darrell, he will now offer a quest for the player. If the player already spoke to Darrell and had only his standard sentence to say, he only must talk to Darrell again and then Darrell will offer the quest for the player.
• Nasty will no longer interfere in the battle between Player and Kid.
• Map Target Ethan/Volkmar will now be removed correctly during the mission: Scrap Delivery.
• Jack has now Volkmar’s Weapon in his inventory.
• If you ask Jora if it's lawful to take the laser rifle, while he has a Smalltalk with Stormson, both should continue their Smalltalk. If this situation already happened, Jax must talk to Stormson again until he has nothing to say anymore and Jora will return on his Smalltalk routine.
• Now Angrim at waterfall is teleported back to his current daily routine point.
• Sometimes Stormson, Eli, Wolf and Oswald were at wrong positions. Now they are teleported back to their daily routine points.
• Fixed a bug that prevented Jax from joining the Berserkers.
• Fixed Crony U5 mission. Now he won't get lost in certain locations.
• Kallax gives additional main plot background information at showdown with him.
• Fixed some time related quests.

World

• Removed wrong weather zone in the Hort.
• Corrected some items that were stuck in the ground.
• Fixed some minor graphical issues with some of the Berserker armor.

Game

• Now party members will be more helpful during combat.
• Enemies now have better targeting. They shouldn't shoot at walls or objects anymore.
• Now there is an option to deactivate the double-click evade roll. To enable this option, you must assign a key to the evade option in the key bindings.
• Human enemies can attack with low stamina now. This should prevent some issues with enemies doing nothing while they have low stamina.
• Now you can transfer chunks of tens in the trade menu.
• Fix for haggler perk. You can buy every item now.
• Fixed helmets being in front of the camera while looting a chest.
• Exploit fix with crafting energy reserve.
• Fixed equipped weapons. They weren't destroyed when you salvage them.
• Fix where you get an 2h Hammer instead of an 2h Sword at the crafting table.
• Fixed duplicated key binding page.
• Fixed the needed skill to upgrade the chain saber.
• Fixed evade tutorial. It has caused a slow-motion effect for 10 seconds.
• Elex and Elex Potions now show a message that your Cold has increased.
• Fixed Perk Bookworm. Now you get XPs for reading letters and books. Reading Letters without the Perk will also give Jax some XP now.
• Party members don't move around when the player is in a dialog.
• Fix for some wrong loading hints.

Achievements

• "Honorary Citizen" is now given after 80h of playtime, not after 1h

Cultured Vultures reviewed ELEX:

ELEX (PS4) REVIEW – Up, Up and Away

ELEX is one of the most lovably rough games of this year and one that will probably do a lot for open-world RPG fans.
ELEX is, without a doubt, one of the strangest games I’ve ever played, and you kind of need to play it yourself to find out why – it’s an experience. Piranha Bytes’ nutty open-world RPG isn’t quite like anything out there, which is both a strength and a weakness.

The backdrop: Magalan has been ravaged by a crashing comet, which turned society upside down and left everyone in factions with ELEX at the core of all the hostility. It means different things for different people; some nearly idolise it, others want nothing to do with it. The Albs harness ELEX’s properties to give them added strength and abilities, the Berserkers abhor it and rely on magic instead, the Outlaws view it as a valuable, and the Clerics avoid it all costs while also praising their god, Calaan. If you’re still with me and not yet thinking that this sounds like a misguided cross between The 100 and Mad Max, strap yourself in – we’re going to go to some weird places.
[...]
Piranha Bytes have their own way of making games and I am taking nothing away from anyone who enjoys their output, but ELEX is clearly running on some outdated foundations. Its technical problems are plentiful, often dropping to sub-30fps on a vanilla PS4 and threatening to sputter out completely when there’s more than a few enemies on-screen. Movement feels like wading through a lake of custard; cumbersome and far too weighty, which extends to player interactions. Most characters, Jax included, are incapable of showing more emotion than the most basic of expressions. I know living in a post-apocalyptic world is grim, but everyone is so gormless that it’s sometimes hard to care about their plights.

And yet, despite so much going against it, I absolutely could not stop playing ELEX. It’s weirdly compelling in a way that I struggle to define. I don’t know whether it’s the fascinating mish-mash of styles that caught my eye, the scope of what the game tries to do, or just how lovably janky almost every inch of it is, but I struggled to pull myself away from it.

Cohh recommends ELEX for fans of the Gothic series:

Cohh Gives His Thoughts About ELEX

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Cohh speaks about his opinion about the new rpg ELEX

Destructoid has reviewed ELEX:

ELEX Gon' Give It To Ya

Think of candidates for the platonic ideal of what you might call a “B-game,” or a “Cult game,” or any number of pop-cultural terms we have for a credible work whose flaws and foibles undermine its chances at wider success, and you’ll likely find a Piranha Bytes title somewhere on the shortlist.

Ironically, it actually takes wider recognition for cult status to feel genuinely earned, and despite nearly two decades of attempts, Piranha Bytes continues to stand in the long shadow cast by its more popular competitors. 

That brings us to the big question: Whether or not ELEX, their latest work, can bring them that recognition.

[...]

Less easy to get used to are the game's technical and performance issues. Playing on a base-model PS4, I noticed numerous framerate hitches (often in places that didn't seem especially busy) and drops, as well as major drops during some in-engine cutscenes. The interface and text also remain optimized for PC, forcing console players to move close to their TVs to read stats or item descriptions, as well as deal with a fairly bland, mainly text-based menu system to manage inventory and equipment. The AI is also on the less optimal side of dopey, with both enemies and companions frequently getting caught in scenery or standing stock still when they should be fighting.

All in all, though, the game remains an impressive, if flawed, effort. Toting an interesting setting and some standout design choices, ELEX goes farther than any previous Piranha Bytes game in making the case for sticking with it in pursuit of a certain old-school ideal of RPG gaming, even if it can come at a cost in polish and presentation.

Score: 7/10 Good

Eurogamer has reviewed ELEX:

Elex review

Tomorrowind.

Hokey, uneven and janky, Elex is nonetheless a compelling throwback to a time before open worlds became choose your own to-do lists.

Without being signed up to work on a big franchise, or having successfully developed one of its own over the course of 20 toilsome years, it can be tough for a studio to launch a new 3D open world RPG in a landscape dominated by Witchers, Mass Effects, Fallouts and Elder Scrolls. Piranha Bytes know this better than most, having birthed the revered Gothic series, only to see its legacy undermined by ongoing tangles over rights. It's not been plain sailing for the studio's subsequent Risen trilogy either, as a decade-long tsunami of icon-drenched Ubi-likes has rather altered perceptions as to what an open world RPG can and should be.

[...]

One can't help but wonder what game might one day arise were Piranha Bytes ever given the development resources of Bethesda, because with less than a quarter of the numbers that worked full-time on making Fallout 4, Piranha Bytes have cobbled together an RPG that in some areas comes close to matching it. Yes, Elex is far, far scrappier overall, the lore is clumsy and unconvincing, and there's enough grit in the combat, presentation and parts of the narrative to have you running for the nearest GOTY Edition chart-topping RPG. But, if you give Elex the benefit of the doubt, it's many freedoms will start to win you over - to the point that on completion you may subsequently find yourself thumbing through this developer's undervalued back catalogue before cracking the seal on the Next Big Thing.

Pladio spotted two let's plays for ELEX:

Colonel RPG:

Let's Play ELEX - Part 1 - Newest Piranha Bytes RPG Gameplay

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Bumpy McSquigums:

Let's Play Elex - Part 1 - Treasure-Loot & Gameplay!

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ELEX has been released - here are two more reviews:

Launch trailer:

ELEX Launch Trailer

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GameSpew:

Elex Review: A World of Unfulfilled Potential

The world of Magalan seemed interesting; the hybrid of science fiction, fantasy and post apocalypse was intriguing, and, well, I just happen to love open world RPGs. Playing the game, however, my excitement turned into disappointment and puzzlement; from unfulfilled promise to mismanaged expectations, the final product is not only lacking in polish but has an abundance of head-scratching design decisions.

[...]

Despite my issues with the game though, my time with Elex isn’t over just yet. I do enjoy the world and the concept, so I am willing to see what else the game has to offer in this respect. It’s just unfortunate that the game’s combat and presentation haven’t received as much attention. Elex needed much more time in the oven to be the game its promising previews made it seem to be, and with the dearth of games available this winter, I can’t recommend it to anyone but the most hardcore fans of the genre.

Score: 60%

COG:

Elex Review – A Massive Action RPG With Something Missing

Elex is kind of an odd duck. An ambitious open-world experience that hopes to marry each of the dominant game settings into a single world, Elex asks what happens when fantasy and sci-fi duke it out for ultimate supremacy. While the premise is presented in a surprisingly digestible format, there are some notable flaws in the execution that prevent this title from reaching the heights at which it aims.

[...]

I gaze upon the vast tangle of interconnected systems bristling inside this game and I recognize that I am not the target audience. In spite of my boundless patience and unusual fascination with pointless minutiae, the measured pace of this game failed to grip me. I know that others will take great pleasure in the hours-long journey required to master this world and each of its factions. Certain kinds of players take immeasurable joy in solving a nested series of hidden puzzles before each and every step of real progress forward. The subtle branching and division in the conversation trees will tickle the fancies of many gamers. I can’t muster the same enthusiasm, however. I’ve been spoiled and fattened off the streamlined systems of western RPGs. I prefer clearly-laid paths or total freedom, with little love for what lies between the two. Elex demands a certain species of patience, a particular brand of mental acuity. I realized what sort of work was required to attain power and success within the confines of this game and I recoiled in horror. There was never any confusion as to what would allow me to succeed. It was always plain as day what I was doing wrong, and equally obvious what I had to do right. Yet I found no joy in the undertaking. Others may yet crack Elex open to feast on the succulent rewards inside. I will not be among them. If you’re looking for a sizable action RPG with a host of systems to master, Elex may be exactly what you need. Be warned, though: I went in with similar hopes and was left somehow wanting.

Score: 65/100

The reviews show that ELEX is not made for casual gamers. The reviewers today expect handholding, questmarkers and a 'nice' difficulty curve.

Some pre-release reviews for ELEX:

Gamespace: ELEX Review – Clunky But Surprisingly Addictive

The Nerd Stash: ELEX Review

Gamereactor: We've been exploring a world where sci-fi and fantasy blend together

Gaming Bolt: ELEX Review – Not Very Exciting

On October 17 ELEX will be released. Piranha Bytes shows us in a video how the graphics have improved from 2016 to 2017:

ELEX 2016 vs ELEX 2017

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We're just a few days away from the release and we thought it might be a nice chance to look back on how ELEX has changed within the last year.

The latest video about ELEX shows us the faction you cannot join: The Albs.

Wccftech talked with Amadeus Weidmann, Game Designer at Piranha Bytes about ELEX:

Piranha Bytes on Improved Polish and 100+ Hours Worth of Playtime in ELEX

Piranha Bytes is a German studio well known to fans of roleplaying games. They’ve released well received, even if far from flawless, titles like Gothic 1, 2 and 3 and Risen 1, 2 and 3.

Now, though,  they’re switching setting to the sci-fantasy world of ELEX. The title refers to a precious and rare resource that landed on the game’s world when a meteor hit and disrupted civilization.

ELEX is capable of many things, such as enabling magic and powering machines, but it also renders humans emotionless. The game begins when the predetermined main character from the Albs faction crash lands away from home and finds himself without access to ELEX, which opens him to feel for the first time.

With the game now less than a month away (it will launch on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 17th), we’ve talked with Amadeus Weidmann, Game Designer at Piranha Bytes, to bring you exclusive details of this upcoming adventure

Is there a level cap? Could players unlock all skills (except the faction ones)?

There is no level cap. But each consecutive level needs more and more experience points.

Will it be possible to mix and match weapons without restrictions, for instance using a shield and a gun at the same time?

You can use Swords or other one-handed weapons together with a shield but, for example, a two-handed hammer cannot be used together with a shield. But of course, you can switch from sword and shield to a laser rifle instantly.

Can players expect dynamic encounters or “events” while roaming the open world?

Yes. For example, some creatures in the world have other creatures they would like to eat. So if a raptor randomly meets a little rat, they will start fighting each other. The same goes for NPCs. If some Creatures come near a city, the guards will start to defend their city. The player can even use this to his advantage by luring some enemies who are too strong for him to a city to get some help.

How big is the world of ELEX in terms of size and time to cross it?

This is really hard to say because the world is not flat, there are a lot of mountains, cliffs and stuff like that, so you can’t just walk in a straight line. But what we can say is the size of the world, it is roughly 1.5 times bigger than the world of Gothic 3.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

ELEX Outlaws faction preview video.

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GameStar found the major pros and cons of ELEX:

ELEX im Test (video in German)

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Pros: world, quests, scope, atmosphere
Cons: technical side, combat system, controls

From Reddit: Elex - 7 Things to know before you buy (GameStar; source in German)

1. Elex doesn't take your hand

   • tiny small tutorial
   • all enemies kill you at least within 3 hits
   • you can miss quests/infos/mechanics if you miss proper attention
   • first hrs are hard and at times frustrating
   • might be either refreshing or totally overwhelming

2. Elex embraces Piranha-Bytes strengths

   • your char is bluff; piles of coarse dialogs
   • huge open world however with fascinating details around every corner
   • environmental stories; hidden camps; people; weapons; all sorts of stories, audiologs and letters
   • gameplay is defined by the classic gameplay-quintet of combat, conversation, exploration, scavenging and leveling
   • ruthless difficulty
   • but ALSO all the known PB shortcomings (animations, textures, production values...)

3. Elex is NOT an AAA game

   • graphics doesn't knock anybody's socks off; not ugly either
   • 30 devs working in a single family building
   • animations are stiff, facial expressions and faces are repetitive, some textures look rough.
   • creative Art-Design: picturesque landscapes due to diverse sceneries
   • german syncro is doing well
   • best score since good old Gothic days

4. Elex runs on a toaster

   • runs on even weak PCs decently
   • with min. details (16x AF, SMAA) even a Geforce GTX 760 will run it with 45fps

5. The strength of Elex' stories is found offside the main story

   • main story THE most interesting PB has ever written: your alter-ego is a former terroristic ALB-General, who finds himself amidst normal people and societies. We gradually learn more about his own violent past, learn about a vile betrayal and decide how the world should keep on spinning.
   • mix of genres invites to learn and see more of the world
   • main story remains in the background for some time
   • no arc of suspense a la Witcher 3
   • interesting moments offside the main story - side quests, environment, companions
   • each main protagonist has its own little story
   • quests with nasty moral decisions which end up far more gripping than in Gothic or Risen series - HIGHLIGHTs of the game
   • standard fetch quests but also most quests can be solved in more than three different manners

6. Elex is no Bug-Fiasco, but has rough edges

   • while testing no severe bugs that affect test score
   • however glitches and small issues along the way; nothing has impact on the overall fun factor though.
   • many mechanics lack the necessary fine-tuning; combat can be fiddly and clunky; the jetpack lacks the proper pace; Interface and inventory are neither particularly impressive nor managable.

7. Elex is a true RPG

   • no Action Game with RPG elements but a true RPG
   • combat is subordiante to the character system
   • Leveling and specialization is often times more interesting than the actual use of such enabled combat mechanics; killing a horde of raptors after you've been pathetically running from them hours priorly is extradordinarily satisfying
   • satisfaction of leveling combat mechanics > clunky combat
   • Crafting, using sockets, alchemy and the correct choice of factions can create a deep and rewarding rpg system.

Thanks Farflame!

You can learn more about the Clerics of ELEX in the following trailer:

ELEX - Gameplay Trailer - The Cleric Faction

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The site of the meteor’s impact, Ignadon is driven by constant volcanic activity. Thought to be devoid of life, Ignadon was the perfect hiding place for the Clerics to grow in power. Followers of the god Calaan, the Clerics see the consumption of Elex in any form as a sin. Instead they use Elex to power their machines. Guardians of Magalan’s technology, the Clerics put their faith in Calaan, plasma weapons, mechs and the power of industry. From the ashes shall rise a new Magalan even more advanced than before.

With the amount of info that has already reported on ELEX, here is another article from my Gamescom visit with more, but not with a lot of new information.

Magalan, the world of ELEX, is one big continent with no loading zones and different landscapes, such as forests, a desert, ice covered mountains and a volcanic region. Elex is the material that was released on the world after a meteor crashed on the planet, which changed the world forever. That meteor carried the substance Elex with it and Elex started to integrate with everything on the planet. There are a total of four factions in ELEX and each of them use Elex in a different way.  There are the Berserkers who live in the forests and who are able to convert Elex into mana to use that as a source of magic. Then there are the Outlaws, who live in the desert and use Elex as a drug. They are an anarchistic bunch and steal and plunder what they can. The Clerics reside in a volcanic environment and they use Elex as a power source for their machines. And finally there are the Albs in the icy mountains, who use Elex for weapons and also consume it, which has turned them into emotionless beings. Neither of the factions like each other much as each of them wants to have Elex for their own.

World of Elex interviewed ELEX-devs at the Gamescom:

ELEX - Gamescom 2017 Interview mit Piranha Bytes

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(German language)

Thanks Farflame!

ELEX gameplay was shown off at Gamescom.

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Visit https://www.worldofelex.de/

World of ELEX reports that ELEX 2 is confirmed:

ELEX 2 confirmed

The german website Gameswirtschaft reports that the EU will support four german game productions this year with 500,000€ in total via the "Creative Europe Media" programme. One of the projects that gets supported with 150,000€ is ELEX 2. The company "AWins 2011 GmbH" which is named as the studio has the same address and the same managing director as the Pluto13 GmbH/Piranha Bytes. Thus, it's safe to assume Piranha Bytes will developed a successor to ELEX next.

Thanks Farflame!

Writing Bull has made some ELEX-Let's Play videos together with game designer Jenny Pankratz:

Preview Let's Play mit Entwickler: Elex (01) [German]

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[]

Piranha Bytes released a trailer about the Outlaw faction of ELEX. The open world RPG will be released on October 17:

ELEX - The Outlaw Faction

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The desert of Tavar - hot, dusty and lethal. After the territorial wars ended, this godforsaken pit was the last thing anyone wanted to call home. But due to the lack of choice, the destitute survivors and outcasts took shelter and slowly regrouped, becoming a unique and dangerous faction: The Outlaws.

RGM checked out ELEX at the E3:

E3 2017 Impressions: ELEX shows a full world with rough promise

Another of the games I got to see behind closed doors at E3 2017 was ELEX, an upcoming science-fiction/fantasy RPG being developed by Piranha Bytes and published by THQ Nordic. It’s an interesting concept that attempts to fuse conventional science-fiction with high fantasy through the power of choice.

The story of ELEX is fairly vague right now however there are some set details. The titular ELEX is a powerful substance that has fallen on the planet Magalan. When consumed by humans, it induces magical powers. It’s also an incredible source of energy that can be used to power advanced technology and war machines. Different factions have different ideas about what to do with it and so the central conflict of the game is born.

The presentation for ELEX showed an absolutely massive world, the largest Piranha Bytes has ever built. There’s a wide range of locations, from icy mountains to vast deserts, lush valleys and more. Each location has its own various wildlife and factions who are vying for control. Countless NPCs roam the wilderness and cities alike. This can be exploited by luring tougher enemies near towns where heavily armed characters may do your job for you, as was shown in the presentation.

[...]

Hardcore Gamer checked out ELEX:

E3 2017: Will Reason or Emotion Prevail in Shaping the World of Elex?

As creatures with a higher level of cognition functioning, us humans are cursed by possessing both reason and emotion. Both of these traits are essential to experiencing life at its fullest, whether it be feeling the bitter pain of heart break or a fleeting moment of pure joy, emotion is a crucial part of the human condition. Likewise, the ability to reason is necessary to understand those emotions and to survive and prosper in general. These two sides of the same brain also play a role in our decision making; do we tend to act on impulse because it feels right or do we weigh the pros and cons of each option and choose based on which option seems more practical? For most people, the answer is both, depending on the situation and with varying results. Now imagine a post-apocalyptic world where your actions and decisions shape how it grows. Do we want to live in a world that is forged by the mind or the heart? The developers of Elex must have asked themselves the same question, as this is an element in how players can choose to progress.

Elex is an action RPG from the creators of the Gothic series. Players are thrust into an original post apocalyptic universe that blurs the lines between fantasy and science fiction. Here the players will encounter monstrous mutated creatures and interesting characters. This desolate world is a harsh environment, where action is never scarce due to the large number of denizens that would like nothing more than to send the player to an early grave. There are also several factions, groups of people joined together which formed their own cultures. In sharing this world with the various inhabitants, the player will have to make some difficult moral choices, and as this device has been used in other games we should all know by now no choice is without consequence. Head or heart, there is no right or wrong way to progress, though one will have to live with their decisions.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Another gameplay video for ELEX:

ELEX Gameplay Demo (New Open World RPG Game) 2017

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About Elex:

Advanced in technology, civilized and with a population of billions, Magalan was a planet looking to the future. Then the meteor hit.

Those who survived are now trapped in a battle to survive, a struggle to decide the fate of a planet. At the center of this fight is the element “Elex”. A precious, limited resource that arrived with the meteor, Elex can power machines, open the door to magic, or re-sculpt life into new, different forms.

But which of these choices should be the future of Magalan? Can technology or magic save this world? Or will this new power destroy all those left alive amongst the ruins?

Thanks to the open world, players have access to all five regions of the game world right from the very start. Go where you want, choose your battles and your allies. The only thing in the world that will stop you are the mutant creatures that live in Magalan’s Elex-polluted landscapes. Walk, run, or punch your jetpack into action. If you can see it, you can reach it. Open world role-playing has never been more open.

Find a companion, choose a faction and influence the world. In Elex there is no traditional class system. Instead you must earn the trust of experienced teachers to develop the skills you select. But, skills alone won’t be enough to survive in this harsh and challenging world. Your attitude towards the people you meet will influence those around you. Will you make an ally or an enemy? Is now the time to show emotion or take the course of logic? Every choice will forge the future of your game.

From swords and axes to bows, crossbows and harpoons, Elex offers one of the widest selection of weaponry in the history of role-playing. Pick up a shotgun, power up a plasma rifle or unleash a flame thrower – there’s a weapon and combat style for every fighter out there. Be it a hammer, a rocket launcher or the power of magic, Elex balances science, fantasy and brute force to let you choose the combat style that fits your role best!

Gamepressure checked out the prologue of ELEX:

Elex hands-on – can this game turn out to be a great RPG?

Apparently, the team at Piranha Bytes looked to the first Gothic games as source of inspiration for Elex. True, world design and gameplay model bear some resemblance to those classics, but the prehistoric technology is a different thing altogether…

Frankly, I’ve never been as conflicted about a video game as I was after seeing Elex presentation In London last week. I have tremendous respect for the works of Piranha Bytes and I wish the team all the best, I really do. But the two hours I spent with the beta version of their latest title left me running hot and cold. On the one hand, the game features all the characteristic traits of a Piranha game, and these will probably once again gain admiration and sincere love from the fans (despite the rather drastic change of setting). On the other hand, you can’t help but think that the German developer is falling more and more behind the times, and not just when it comes to technology but also matters that are much more substantial.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Gamestar has news that ELEX will release on October 17th. There also is a new CGI trailer.

Thanks rebi01 and Joxer!

Update: here is the press release:

VIENNA, Austria and ESSEN, Germany - June 1, 2017 - THQ Nordic's upcoming science-fantasy, open world, action RPG ELEX, developed by Piranha Bytes, creators of the award-winning Gothic and Risen series, will be out on October 17, 2017 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Piranha Bytes are thrilled to present a new CGI trailer for the game, that establishes the heart of the player's journey on Magalan, a planet devastated after a meteor collision. Moving to the beat of Benj Heard's "Whatever Doesn't Kill Me (Better Run)", the video sets up the road at the heart of the player's journey, as they walk the line between the many character progression and faction choices that lay ahead.

Developer Piranha Bytes and publisher THQ Nordic are also proud to announce a fine Collector's Edition for ELEX. Inside the premium package is:

• A 10-inch-high figurine of an Alb Mage
• A 2-inch amulet in the form of a combat drone
• A cloth map, showing the world of Magalan
• The original score on CD
• An artbook
• The game's manual
• The game itself, obviously

The ELEX Collector's Edition is listed on Amazon.

Here is another video showing ELEX. This time it is from a presentation at the Role Playing Convention. The first in-game footage starts at 4:30 and ends at 16:40. Before and after that you will see the usual talking heads that are talking in German.

For the die hards there is also a recording of the second day, showing the same video and the same people saying roughly the same.

Thanks Alistair.

Farflame spottet some artwork and screenshots at World of Elex.

Thanks!

World of Elex shows some ELEX gameplay:

ELEX - May 2017 Gameplay HD

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Brand-new ELEX gameplay, showing Ignadon for the first time!

Björn Pankratz and Gronkh are playing ELEX together for three hours (with comments in German):

ELEX (Preview)

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Learn more about the Beserker faction of ELEX:

ELEX - Berserker Faction Trailer

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Piranha Bytes and THQ Nordic present a new in-game trailer for ELEX. The new trailer features one of the major factions players can join in the world of Magalan: the Berserkers.

Farflame spotted some new ELEX screenshots at WoE:

Together with the new prologue trailer some new screenshots of ELEX have been released as well. While some show comepletely new scenes, others seem to belong to known screenshots. On the screenshots you can see landscapes and combat against monsters and mechs, among other things.

Moriendor informed us that the IGN YouTube channel has a new video, the official prologue trailer of ELEX.

Farflame spotted another ELEX-screenshot on WoE:

"Reestablishing a functioning infrastructure is unnecessary. All of our strength is focused on the extraction of Elex."
-Announcement of an officer

-> World of Elex

Farflame spotted Destructoid's ELEX preview:

ELEX is odd and janky, but totally open

Do whatever you want

Breath of the Wild has given me a whole new appreciation for open-world games. I love the amount of freedom you have in tackling the quest (or not bothering with it) and the order in which you can tackle it. While games like Grand Theft Auto and the more recent Elder Scrolls games give you snippets of that, they tend to hold your hand throughout their main questlines, which inevitably makes the player want to rebel against the set path.

Much to my surprise, ELEX is possibly more open-ended than Zelda. You’re given total freedom to explore any area of the game. If you see a distant mountain, you can travel to it. If any of the NPC’s look at you wrong, you can kill them. If you feel like giving the middle finger to the main quest, go right ahead. The game world will compensate for that lack of quest giver and allow some other option for progression. That sounds an awful lot like Morrowind (except that game would just consider the quest failed).

[...]

Farflame spotted a part of the Elex world map on World of Elex:

Part of the World Map

In a new Youtube video with gameplay from PAX East 2017, a big part of the world map is visible for the first time. Although the video only shows the area in the region Abessa which is known from many gaming conventions, this small find is worth a news. Additionally, the video also shows some places that were unknown until now.

Because the part of the map that is visible in the video changes, we put together several screenshots from the video into an image, which thus contains virtually the whole part of the map visible in the video. If you want to see the map in the video anyway, you can do that starting roughly at the 7:00 mark.

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[...]

Farflame spotted this video about ELEX converters:

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As the Alb’s largest instrument of power, the converters gain valuable Elex from all the resources and creatures that are being processed inside these. Due to the resistance of the Berserkers, the converter in Edan has been shut down. Thus, for the time being, they could keep the advance of the Albs at bay.

Farflame spotted that Piranha Bytes tweeted about the Slugbeast and fueling stations in ELEX.

Farflame spotted on WoE that the release of ELEX has been delayed to Q3 2017:

In a press release from THQ Nordic about the PAX East in Boston, a new release date for Elex was mentioned. According to THQ Nordic, Piranha Bytes new RPG will be released not until Q3 2017, which means July, August or September. [...]

PCGamer have a video on Twitch showing in-game footage of some games, amongst others ELEX. The ELEX part starts at 1:07:00 in the video.

Farflame spotted a Mountaintroll on World of Elex:

The Mountaintroll doesn't seem to be very intelligent but that's a fallacy. He mostly lives in caves or stony areas where he has his lair. His tough scaled skin makes him almost invincible.
- Piranha Bytes

Farflame spotted this ELEX-interview at Gamingbolt:

ELEX Interview: Of Jetpacks and Magic

The makers of Gothic and Risen discuss their upcoming new IP.

It’s not easy creating a new action RPG IP, especially one in a new universe that combines science fiction with fantasy. The challenge is especially interesting for Piranha Bytes, the developer of ELEX which is better known for its work on the Gothic and Risen series. What separates ELEX from those other franchises and how does it compare to today’s standard for open world action RPG action?

GamingBolt spoke lead game designer and studio head Björn Pankratz along with story writer and game designer Jennifer Pankratz to find out more about ELEX.

With two established properties in Gothic and Risen, what motivated you to go down a different route and create a brand new IP?

We’ve been developing open-world fantasy RPGs for the last 20 years, and so we felt that there’s time for something new. But on the other hand, we love to create fantasy games with a lot of freedom in a simulated, living game world, so we thought we should stick to that, but approach it from a new angle. So, we were looking for something that has more stark contrasts, and gives us more gameplay possibilities, without being stale at the same time, and so we ended up with our science-fantasy setting.

This new setting allows us to add so many more new gameplay features, like hacking or the jetpack.  Especially the jetpack, which also is a symbol for the freedom we want to give the players in our game world – moving through the game world without boundaries. And with THQ Nordic we finally found a publisher that also believed in the concept, and voilà – ELEX was born.

How do the various factions in the game affect the player’s experience? Are there are special abilities to be gained and side missions to unlock by aligning with these factions?

Each faction on Magalan – the world our game is set in – has its own history and a distinct way of life. Of course, they’ve also got their own armors, ranks, weapons, skills and side missions, but what really counts is their view on the future of Magalan, and how they want to shape it.

Picking one of the factions is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the game, and your choice will change how other NPCs in the world see you and react to you, and that will also alter your storyline. Besides that, we also added a new moral system to the game that includes many moral choices that also change the behavior of crew members and other NPCs.

[...]

There's a new ELEX screenshot on World of Elex:

The Worldhearts work day and night to revive the once dead land of Magalan.

Thanks Farflame!

Two THQ Nordic games (Elex, Spellforce 3l) will be playable for public at PC Gamer Weekender in London:

THQ Nordic bringing titles to the PC Gamer Weekender

Get your hands on ELEX.

The PC Gamer Weekender will be host to a wide range of publishers and the lovely, lovely games they all want to bring with them. 

One such attendee will be THQ Nordic, which is bringing with it a couple of interesting titles for the public to get a good, solid hands-on with. First up is ELEX, a brand new IP from Piranha Bytes—creators of the Risen and Gothic RPG series. An "Eclectic, Lavish, Exhilarating, Xenial open-world action-RPG", ELEX mixes sci-fi and fantasy to great effect. 

Set in an edgy, dark and uncompromising world where players are battling for a magical resource known as—you guessed it—ELEX. Along the way you’ll explore futuristic and medieval settings, battle with swords, magic and guns and face off against—or just have a natter with—original characters and mutated creatures. 

Piranha Bytes Game Director Bjorn Pankratz said ELEX will be a "completely new game experience with a fresh setting, new assets and plenty of possibilities." 

THQ Nordic’s second title at the PC Gamer Weekender will be a more familiar, though no less exciting, name: Spellforce 3. 

The third game in the near-15-year-old RPG/RTS series is being developed by Grimlore Games, and acts as a prequel to the original Spellforce: The Order of Dawn and maintains the series’ setting of Eo. 

Both games and many more will be available to play at the PC Gamer Weekender, which is being held February 18-19 at the Olympia, London, in the UK. For more details see the site, and follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

ELEX supports Razer's Chroma keyboards now:

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Thanks Farflame!

Farflame spotted a new ELEX-screenshot as well as a new fact about the game:

Some remaining artifacts of the old world still resist the gnawing tooth of time.

Farflame spotted some ELEX screenshots at World of Elex.

Farflame spotted a new Elex screenshot on WoE:

The standing waters of Magalan are contaminated with Elex so much that trinking from them can cause mutations in a matter of hours.

Farflame spotted this ELEX-preview at GamePressure:

Elex hands-on – science-fantasy for the fans of Gothic

After some time spent watching and then playing Elex, an RPG by the German studio Piranha Bytes, it’s hard to believe it will be on par with Gothic. Will a well-developed world make up for technical shortcomings?

When we interviewed Björn Pankratz from Piranha Bytes a year ago, he told us that there would be more Gothic than Risen in their upcoming RPG, and I was really pleased to hear that. During Warsaw Games Week I personally had a chance to talk with the developers, see a considerable portion of gameplay, and – most importantly – take Elex for a spin myself. Indeed, from the very beginning, despite the futuristic tech and the ruins of a highly developed civilization on the horizon, I was half-expecting to bump into Diego or Xardas at any moment. However, it’s too early to fetch a nice bottle of champagne just yet – although every fan of Gothic will find something of interest quicker than you can say “Welcome to the Colony”, we also need to bear in mind that Elex's heritage sadly includes all the characteristic shortcomings of the developer’s games too.

[...]

In its current form Elex looks rather mediocre, and it probably won’t be a breakthrough in the genre… but then again, we don’t expect it to be. I hope that the world created by Piranha Bytes will make up for the game’s shortcomings, which are worryingly numerous in the alpha build I’ve seen. However, we have to remember that the games by the German studio have always been more than simply a sum of all their parts. After the presentation, I was disappointed, but then again would you be impressed if someone threw you into the middle of the first Gothic with the best weapon and armor just to kill some monsters? Probably not. There are many things that the players are able to forgive the makers of Gothic should their game have a great mood and a complex, captivating game world. Luckily for us, the German team seems to have a particular knack for this sort of thing.

THQ Nordic will publish several upcoming games - ELEX included - on GOG:

UPDATE - Coming Soon: ELEX + Spellforce 3 + The Guild 3 + Battle Chasers: Nightwar

A cool selection of upcoming hits! The cold winds of winter are rising, and with them, a snowstorm of great THQ Nordic games is about to arrive, DRM-free on GOG.com. Put on your coats and let's go meet them!

ELEX introduces a unique post-apocalyptic fantasy setting, crafted by the creators of the beloved Gothic series. Control of a mysterious resource that grants people magical powers is being contested between warring factions. Will you allow magic to dominate the planet or will you harness Elex to power machines which will rule over Magalan? Move around the open world with your handy jetpack, fight terrible creatures, and witness the land change based on your decisions.

Spellforce 3 blends RTS with RPG, magic with raw swordfighting, and hero development with massive-scale battles. Shape the incredible world of Eo during the volatile years leading up to the events of SpellForce: The Order of Dawn by customizing your character and leading your armies to victory using advanced tactics and spellcraft.

The Guild 3 transports us back to the dark middle ages, when our family sets out to build a trading dynasty in a society dominated by the rich, the powerful, and the superstitious. Balance the historical events, the economics, and the politics involved in your dynasty's well-being and consider becoming a member of a secret society because you'll need someone to have your back when the challenges start piling up.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a story-driven, turn-based RPG, with a diverse cast of comic book characters making their way through randomly generated dungeons. Traps, puzzles, secrets, and plenty of bloodthirsty monsters are waiting to bite, slice, and blast you to bits, so you better pick your heroes' skills and equipment carefully, if you want to survive down there.Wishlist THQ Nordic's upcoming offerings and prepare for some intense and magical adventures -- DRM-free on GOG.com.

We had this Gamescom news post before, but it went into limbo. The article is back, so we also have a news post for it. Here is the Gamescom article for ELEX.

World of ELEX shows us where each ELEX-faction lives.

Hint - there is great barrier on one screen that may remind players of something :)

After the impact of the meteorite in the world of Magalan the people have devided in four big factions, which all pursue their own goals and ideals. In this article with exclusive information from Piranha Bytes we look at the world more closely. Where are the Berserkers living? What drives the Albs and who are the Clerics?

[...]

New artwork and screenshots have emerged for ELEX.

Over the past several days, the team at Piranha Bytes has been busy cranking out pairs of artwork and screenshots depicting the raptor, mech, and jackal on the official ELEX Facebook page. Each pair is also accompanied by a paragraph description, which I'll quote in the same order below:

Among the residents of Magalan, the Raptor is just as well known for his frightening appearance as he is recognized for his hazardous nature. He is protected by strong scale armor that is hard to penetrate. His razor sharp teeth serve just one purpose, to rip up the inside of victims!

...

The Mech is a construct of deadly technology that, once in action, is bringing devastation in its wake. He is protected by strong armor and is equipped with an arsenal of weapons for him to be able to react to every combat situation. Anyone who faces a Mech quickly recognises, that he wouldn't want to make an enemy of him!

...

The Jackal has a very good ear, sharp claws and is littered with dirt and scars. Although there are a few domesticated examples, you should approach them with caution.

@DSOgaming they report more details on ELEX from a press release by Piranha Bytes.

According to the press release, the game is set against the backdrop of a brand new post-apocalyptic science fantasy universe that immerses players in a vast, seamless game world full of interesting characters, mutated creatures, deep moral choices and of course, some thrilling action.

"Magalan, the completely open game world of ELEX, was home to a highly developed civilisation until a catastrophic meteor strike devastated the planet, reducing it to a post-apocalyptic world. The meteor also deposited a substance that is now found in nearly everything: Elex, and each faction uses it in a different way. Every inhabitant of the world is constantly looking for Elex, whether as a substance with magical powers, to use in a weapon or as a pure stimulant."

ELEX is all about contrasts: science vs fantasy, magic vs laser weapons and logic vs emotions. In ELEX, Piranha Bytes combines all the game elements that RPG fans love and has placed them in an entirely new environment: a science-fantasy setting. These contrasts are also evident in the various factions.

Regarding factions, Piranha Bytes had this to say:

"While one faction, the Albs, consider the ingestion of Elex as part of their cult, the Clerics group ban the consumption of Elex on religious grounds, and use it to build their high-tech weapons. The Berserkers however, a people who live in harmony with nature, process Elex into mana and use it to craft magical weapons. As for the Bandits, their society has no fixed rules, but they live by the credo: "Take anything you can grab, or someone else will.""

Piranha Bytes' Björn Pankratz said:

"We've been thinking about the setting for ELEX for almost 10 years, and we finally have the chance to implement our ideas. The mix of sci-fi and fantasy offers an incredible number of opportunities and cool contrasts that we can play around with. The fans of Gothic or Risen will recognise our unique game philosophy and ELEX builds on that solid basis. ELEX will be the most dynamic and realistic RPG sim ever!"

Farflame spotted some ELEX-screenshots at WoE:

Remember how Gothic 1 and Gothic 2 had that certain something, which the fans called "The Gothic Feeling"? It is no secret that the Piranhas have struggled to find that special atmosphere until now, but finally, with Elex, they seem to have managed it.

From the latest screenshots, it seems that Elex might be one of the most atmospheric RPGs ever made. But don't take our words for granted, head after the break and see for yourself!

@Gamepressure they preview Piranha Bytes' Elex and offer their first impressions.

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When I was invited for a preview of their upcoming title, Elex, I was really excited; you don't get the chance to speak with the creators of Gothic everyday. There wasn't a lot of time to reminisce the adventures from Khorinis and Mhyrtana though, because Björn and Jennifer Pankratz - a married couple of game developers - had a lot to say, and a lot to show. We've even had a brief opportunity to grab the gamepads ourselves and see how does, among others, the combat system feel in Elex. It gave us a taste of - at least on paper - the most ambitious project by Piranha to date. But what is Elex actually? It's an entirely new universe, with dozens of new ideas, but does it mean that this is a new franchise first, and a Piranha Bytes' game second? Absolutely not. The developers are still sailing on familiar waters, and the heritage of their previous games is very much alive.

[...]

In Elex, the hero is no longer nameless (same as in Risen 3, btw). In the new game, we'll play as a former member of Albs, betrayed by his own people. When he wakes up after the crash of his fighter jet, he finds himself in a camp of Berserkers - Albs' sworn enemies. Because he won't be able to use elex for a long period of time, he will recover much of his human nature. The hero not only has his own story, but his story is also strongly tied to the main plot of the game - the task is to get into the base of the callous organization in order to learn the reason for the betrayal. Before that, the player will encounter a handful of other tribes struggling to survive under the regime of Albs, and will get involved into a tight network of intrigues. The main elements of the game are exploration, combat, decision making and completing quests - all of this should suffice for couple of dozen hours of gameplay. What's more important, though, is that in each of these elements, the players should have a lot of freedom.

[...]

Three factions are too few

Piranha Bytes games are known for their characteristic factions that the player can join; the decision is most often ideological. It will be similar this time, since each of the groups we encounter will obey totally different sets of rules. The devs revealed that although there will be a lot of different sides of the conflict, ultimately, Elex uses the classic division into three factions which we can join. The abovementioned Albs are the villains of this story, and while the players will get to know a lot about them, they will not be able to side with this faction (although we think that one of the endings can be somehow connected to this thread). There is, however, nothing that can stop us from learning the ways and philosophies of the Outcasts, Berserkers or Clerks and joining one of those groups. The devs say they want to make sure the players will get to know the factions well before they decide which side to take. The point at which the decision has to be made comes after completing all the quests for the three groups, about ten hours into the game. With this decision begins another chapter of the story, where the events will quickly gather pace.

World of Elex reports that Andrew S. Walsh returns to the Piranha Bytes team to do the English translation for ELEX:

In a forum post, Jenny Pakratz, one of the main developers of ELEX, has confirmed that acclaimed writer and director Andrew S. Walsh, whose previous collaboration with Piranha Bytes on the game Risen has received widespread critical and fan praise, is working again with our favorite developers, in order to deliver a new excilarating experience in ELEX.

"In Risen 1 Andrew S. Walsh over-worked the english translations, but he didn't work at Risen 2 or 3. In ELEX he already works at the translations, so i think it will be great."

Read after the break more details about Andre S. Walsh's career and his work on Risen!

Andrew S. Walsh's work has covered videogames, theatre, films and television, comics, and radio work.

During his previous collaboration with Piranha Bytes, he served as Lead Writer, dialogue and narrative consultant, and Voice Director, for Risen. His peer, Michael Paeck, from Cliffhanger Productions, had this to say about the project:

“I've worked with Andy on the English rewrite and the English voice direction of the dialogs of the game 'Risen'. The game is a massive single player RPG, so it was a complicated and big project for all of us. At first the Publisher and I had a general idea of where we wanted to go with this title, but with Andy on board the idea of just having a good localization developed into a living and breathing project that easily surpassed our high expectations. He did not only understand exactly what we were looking for in basically no time, he also worked hard, showed passion and believed in what we were working on. I can recommend him for any story work you've got, he's got the spirit.”

Among his many successes we count:

• Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award 2010 Nomination for Risen;
• Winner of the 'Best Videogames Writer, 2009' Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Prince of Persia;
• For his radio work, he won The Woolwich Young Radio Playwrights' Award in 1996

Thanks Farflame - you found some new concept art at WoE as well: The Outlaws

@dsogaming A pre-alpha trailer for Piranha Bytes' ELEX has emerged.

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ELEX is described as a handcrafted action role-playing experience, set in a brand new post-apocalyptic Science Fantasy universe that puts players into a huge seamless game world full of original characters, mutated creatures, deep moral choices and powerful action. The game will feature raptors, mechs, mutants and jetbacks. Enjoy the trailer after the jump!

The ELEX-website is now online with a lot of information:

Science-Fantasy

Advanced in technology, civilized and with a population of billions, Magalan was a planet looking to the future. Then the meteor hit.

Those who survived are now trapped in a battle to survive, a struggle to decide the fate of a planet. At the center of this fight is the element „Elex”. A precious, limited resource that arrived with the meteor, Elex can power machines, open the door to magic, or re-sculpt life into new, different forms.

But which of these choices should be the future of Magalan? Can technology, or magic save this world? Or will this new power destroy all those left alive amongst the ruins? [...]

The Berserkers in Edan

Wiping the planet clean, the meteor has given the people of Magalan a chance. The world can be regrown again. [...]

The Albs in Xacor

Where the meteor destroyed, it also gave the people of Magalan their future – Elex. Harnessing its power for technology [...]

The Clerics in Ignadon

The site of the meteor’s impact, Ignadon is riven by constant volcanic activity. Thought to be devoid of life, Ignadon [...]

The Outlaws in Tavar

A rocky, desert wasteland, Tavar is home to the Outlaws. Scavenging the ruins for weapons and equipment, the Outlaws will [...]

@dsogaming Piranha Bytes' new action RPG ELEX has some new screenshots for your perusal.

Farflame spotted Beserkers on World of ELEX:

The Berserkers turned away from modern technique and established a new home in the woods of Edan. They create sturdy suits of armor, that resist the dangerous forests and they learned how to change Elex into Mana to work powerful Magic, without hazarding the heavy side effects of pure Elex.

World of ELEX announced that PB will release an ELEX-development documentary on Friday:

The Piranhas have announced, via the official Facebook page for ELEX, that they will release, on Friday, a documentary about the development of ELEX, their new RPG. Check out the announcement below.

And they have published some new artwork as well.

New ELEX-info, screenshots and artwork can be found on the new German fan-site World of ELEX.

Farflame spotted some new ELEX-screenshots:

Eye spotted these two screenshots from ELEX, which have been made available via their Twitter account.

Black Rune spotted some new screenshots on the ELEX Steam page.

Eye spotted this interview that German site Gameplane had with Piranha Bytes' game designer Jennifer Pankratz, about ELEX and herself.

It is in German, so if anyone can offer a small summary in the comments, that would be great.

You can win some prizes with the Piranha Bytes Risen 3 and ELEX Advent calendar. Answer two questions right in the upcoming four weeks for a win. Geralt of Riva is a special guest.

Eye informed us that Piranha Bytes' next RPG, ELEX, can now be followed on Steam.

ELEX is a handcrafted action role-playing experience from the award-winning creators of the Gothic series, set in a brand new post-apocalyptic Science Fantasy universe that puts players into a huge seamless game world full of original characters, mutated creatures, deep moral choices and powerful action.

In ELEX, you join the war over a powerful resource that gives people great magic-like powers, but turns them into indifferent cold creatures. You decide if emotions and humaneness or cold synthetic logic will rule the world of Magalan.

Features:

• Completely seamless Open World experience without borders and loading zones for the ultimate exploration experience
• Vertical Exploration: Use the jetpack to reach any place in the game world
• Simulated game world where everything reacts to the players actions and provides for an authentic atmosphere
• Highly interconnected quest system that support true player choices
• Tactical and challenging combat system for close and ranged combat
• Universe set in a post apocalyptic science fantasy universe that combines the most interesting aspects of all genres

You can also check out our Gamescom preview of the game from some information.

In addition an event is coming at the Piranha Bytes fanart portal, which still has over 4 and a half day to go at the moment of this writing. We don't know what it is, but my guess would be that it is related to some artwork...

DevPlay has interviewed Björn Pankratz from Piranah Bytes about ELEX:

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Interview in German - some nice artwork is shown. Exspect a Gothic-like game in a postapocalytic world.

One of best Elex interviews so far. Ichbissak asks Björn Pankratz about Elex and game elements from the Gothic and Risen series that will be reutilized.

(the interview is only available in German)

Some info:

• at least 4 very different factions
• combat more challenging than Risen 3, configurable with difficulty settings
• swimming is in the game
• Jet-pack is essential in the game, but limited
• XP points and level-ups are back
• many more important characters can die
• Day/Night cycle very likely in the game
• crafting/inventory visible in the gameworld (not on an extra screen)
• much gameworld interaction
• combat more direct
• not an age 18 game, maybe 16 only (Gothic and Risen are free from 12 onwards)
• PB has all rights for Gothic, and at the right time they will return to this series

Our Eye spotted a few Elex interviews. The first is at Gamepressure.

here is huge fanbase for your series like Gothic – especially in Europe – people are constantly looking for something new concerning your games. Did you ever consider continuing with Gothic series or was Elex your primary goal?

When you ask three people what was the great thing about Gothic, you get five opinions. The central term you always hear is “because of the atmosphere of the game it was so good”. We analyzed all previous titles and we think there were many mind-blowing situations in the game. We want to put all of these cool situations together in one game now. And the reason why we don’t do another Gothic title is that we want to do Elex.

So you’re combining everything that was best in these games?

Yeah, but it is in a completely new context, because sci-fi elements and post-apocalyptic elements make it so interesting and challenging for us. We put it in a hybrid, a setting that we call science-fantasy. So far we made computer games in a fantasy setting, now for seventeen years or something. We think it’s time for a completely new start. If we were to do another Gothic title, we feel like we’re in a closet. Many fans also have their own expectations about what Gothic is all about – you have to implement Xardas, you have to implement Milten, and so on. The expectations that you have to fulfill are so high that we say “no, we want to have freedom to decide what to do”, and Elex is the answer to that.

And there is an interview in German with Nordic Games at Redbull Austria, which you could try to read with Google Translate.

Piranha Bytes has a new game in the works, based on a new IP, named ELEX. Given the history of Piranha Bytes, I was obviously interested and scheduled a meeting with them to find out more. Unfortunately there was not a hands-off demo , but there were some videos and I wrote a summary of what was told.

The story behind ELEX is that it takes place on a planet similar to Earth. At some point in time a big meteor crashed into de planet, wiping out most of its civilization with only a few groups surviving. With this meteor a new substance came to the planet, called Elex.
This substance integrated with everything on the planet, flora and fauna, and it mutated things as well, but can also be used to create powerful weapons and tools.
Furthermore it can be consumed as a drug, which will give the consumer very magical powers, but will also degenerate them in the process, making them lose all of their human feelings and emotions and leaving them without any empathy for others.
The biggest part of the game will be about choosing between using Elex and gaining absolute power while becoming dehumanized or not using it and keeping your humanity.

Zero99iGames recorded the Elex presentation in a public hall at the GC. The video is in German and doesn't include gameplay material.

The World of Players community - the host of the biggest PB fan sites - interviewed Jenny from Piranha Bytes at the GC. Don't forget to switch on the English subtitles.

Gamepressure scored the first English language Elex preview.

Our journey will lead us through verdant forests, gloomy marshes or even snow-covered mountains. After clearing the starting area we have the whole planet at our disposal with our only restriction being our capability to dispatch monsters roaming the world's various locations. The world itself is a single, seamless location without any loading screens and offering us roughly 70 hours of gameplay. The planet Magalan will be populated by numerous NPCs and each one of them will have his own opinion on the current events. Human settlements will offer a variety of styles with every fraction possessing its own unique characteristics. The creators also intend to implement a quick travel system, most likely in the form of teleports.

Apart from that, Piranha Bytes provides us with much more in terms of transportation. The vertical exploration system shown during the presentation was one of the more interesting options. Our character will possess a jetpack, allowing him to reach certain, inaccessible in any other way, places. We've seen this ability in action albeit Bjorn [sic!] Pankratz specified that this not the final version that will be included in the game. The creators are currently busy properly balancing the gameplay so that the inclusion of the jetpack (or rather - a jetbelt) will be justified in the game's setting and becomes an integral part of the game (and not a forced addition).

Pinranha Bytes devs (Björn & Amadeus) interviewed by Rocket Beans TV at GC2015:

Codex member vonAchdorf has made a short summary of this German only interview:

• both piranha bytes guys would like to see Fallout 4 at Gamescom
• the interviewer took 1 week off for the Fallout 4 release
• ELEX users lose their emotions and become more rational and cold
  • which means their moral system isn't based on good vs. evil, but "human / emotional" vs. "machine-like / cold"
  • even a serial killer hobo can save the world and will be celebrated (getting the "good end")
• fantasy (?) guild can use ELEX without the side effects ("mana")
• one big continent (no islands, no loading screens)
• no level scaling for enemies (taking the wrong turn may kill the player)
• leveling is in, XP is in, learning points can used at teachers to get / increase skills
• ELEX causes mutations (animals, plants, humans)
• screenshots start at 12:30
• desert, swamp, forest areas
• vertical exploration (e.g. with a (ELEX fueled) jetpack)
• other than in the article mentioned above, they'll only have 3 factions
  • Clerics (technological advanced, don't use ELEX as a drug, only as fuel to keep their bodies and minds pure)
  • Outlaws (Mad Max like anarchistic bandits which collect the "old" technology for makeshift improvisations like chainsaw swards and harpoons)
  • didn't talk about the 3rd
• one-handed swords, two-handed swords, sword shield combat
• romances are in
• home base confirmed
• You start as an emotion-less ELEX consuming walk(war?) commander of one of the high tech factions who's glider gets shot down and lands in the middle of nowhere, where he lies for three weeks, ELEX withdrawal causing him to tan and feel emotions for the first time in his life. The free people hate you, because you waged war against them, your own faction hates you as well.
• crafting
• combat system will be more complicated and less causal friendly than R2/3
• few boss battles, less than R3's because boss battles are a QTE which they want to avoid and it impacts player freedom (artificially locked "boss arenas")
• they like power-lines
• team is mostly R3's
• theft and murder has consequences
• NPCs have a daily routine
• stealth is in
• no classes, pick your own skills based
• release planned for Q4 2016

Ruptly.tv posted a short video shot at the Nordic Games press conference today. Project lead Björn Pankratz presents the new Piranha Bytes game Elex.

Vertical exploration FTV!

The World of Piranha Bytes community uploaded their second video podcast for PB's new game Elex. This time they summarize the infos in the current GameStar's world exclusive Elex cover story. Condensed facts, no speculation.

You'll like what you hear.

As expected yesterday's rumors were true. Piranha Bytes cooperates with Nordic Games to create a new action-RPG named Fallout Arcanum ELEX. The PR tells their core audience all the right things. I've highlighted a couple of them:

Nordic Games + Piranha Bytes = ELEX 
July 2, 2015

The creators of Gothic turn over a new leaf together with Nordic Games and tackle their first new, collaborative project: ELEX

Nordic Games teams up with veteran studio Piranha Bytes to work on their first collaborative and new project: ELEX. This eclectic, lavish, exhilarating, xenial open-world RPG is scheduled to release in Winter 2016/2017 on PC and current gen console platforms. This is by far the most ambitious project for Piranha Bytes and Nordic Games to date.

“To say we are excited to see this new project unfold in the hands of Piranha Bytes is an understatement. ELEX is going to be edgy, dark, uncompromising, complex, and we love it already,“ comments Reinhard Pollice Business & Product Development Director at Nordic Games. “We will be premiering a vertical slice build at Gamescom 2015, more info will be released in due time.”

“Apart from being enthusiastic about the cooperation with Nordic Games, it is great to know, that we will have ample creative freedom with ELEX, which is a very important factor for us” said Björn Pankratz, Game Director at Piranha Bytes. "We can't wait to show you a completely new game experience with a fresh setting, new assets and plenty of possibilities."

About ELEX

ELEX is a handcrafted action role-playing experience from the award-winning creators of the Gothic series, set in a brand new post-apocalyptic science fantasy universe that puts players into a huge, seamless game world full of original characters, mutated creatures, deep moral choices and powerful action.